World Cup 2026 set to be biggest ever

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11 with a match between Mexico national football team and South Africa national football team and will become the largest edition in the tournament’s history. Hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the competition will feature 48 national teams for the first time and include 104 matches—40 more than at the previous World Cup in Qatar.

The final is scheduled for July 19 at the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

Three host nations amid political tensions

For the first time in World Cup history, the tournament will be hosted by three countries simultaneously. The only previous jointly hosted World Cup was in 2002, when Japan and South Korea shared hosting duties.

Although the United States, Canada, and Mexico have traditionally maintained close relations, the current political climate is more complicated. Relations between Washington and Ottawa have deteriorated following the return of Donald Trump to the White House in January 2025. Trade disputes and controversial remarks concerning Canada have strained ties between the two longtime partners.

Relations between the United States and Mexico have also been affected by disagreements over migration, border security, and efforts to combat drug cartels.

Despite these challenges, the three countries continue to cooperate in organizing the world's biggest sporting event of the year.

Record number of teams and matches

The most significant change for the 2026 edition is the expansion from 32 to 48 participating national teams.

The teams have been divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage.

For the first time, a Round of 32 will be played, increasing the total number of matches to 104.

The expansion has enabled several nations to qualify for a World Cup for the first time, including Cape Verde national football team, Curaçao national football team, Jordan national football team, and Uzbekistan national football team.

Supporters of the reform argue that it gives more nations the opportunity to participate in football’s biggest tournament. Critics, however, believe that the larger field could dilute the overall level of competition.

Mandatory hydration breaks

FIFA has introduced an unprecedented measure for all World Cup matches.

Each half will include a mandatory three-minute hydration break, regardless of weather conditions. These pauses will take place around the 22nd minute of each half.

Previously, such breaks were only allowed when temperatures exceeded 31 degrees Celsius.

The decision follows recent experiences in the United States, where high temperatures created challenges for athletes.

The new rule also offers commercial benefits for broadcasters, who will be able to air advertisements during the breaks.

Human rights concerns

Amnesty International warned in a report published in March about several risks associated with the tournament.

According to the report, the competition could create challenges for fans, athletes, journalists, workers, and local communities in host cities.

The organization directed its strongest criticism at the United States, where most matches will be played, expressing concern over immigration policies and the activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

For Mexico, the report highlighted the deployment of approximately 100,000 security personnel to address high crime levels.

Regarding Canada, Amnesty raised concerns about the possible further marginalization of homeless people in host cities such as Vancouver and Toronto.

High costs for fans

The tournament’s vast geographic scale presents a major challenge for supporters.

The distance between the farthest host stadiums, located in Vancouver and Miami, is approximately 4,500 kilometers.

Fans hoping to follow their favorite teams throughout the tournament may face long and expensive journeys between cities and countries.

Ticket prices have also generated controversy. The organization Football Supporters Europe has filed a complaint with the European Commission, accusing FIFA of excessive pricing practices.

One month before the tournament, tickets for many group-stage matches were still available. Prices for some high-demand games exceeded $4,000, while the cheapest tickets for less popular matches cost around $380.

Even more remarkable are prices on the secondary market, where tickets for the final have reportedly been listed for more than $2 million.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the pricing policy, arguing that it reflects the enormous demand for an event of this scale.

Iran’s unique situation

The participation of the Iran national football team is accompanied by political and diplomatic challenges.

Iran has qualified for its seventh World Cup, but Iranian citizens face restrictions on entering the United States.

While exemptions apply to players, coaches, and technical staff, uncertainty remains regarding access for some officials of the Iranian Football Federation.

The situation is further complicated by tensions between Iran and Israel and the involvement of the United States.

At FIFA’s request, Mexico agreed to host the Iranian delegation during the tournament. The team will cross the border into the United States only for its three group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

A historic tournament

The 2026 World Cup is set to break multiple records simultaneously: the highest number of participating teams, the largest number of matches, the first tournament hosted by three countries, and some of the highest costs ever faced by supporters.

At the same time, the competition will take place amid geopolitical tensions, human rights debates, and controversies over ticket accessibility, making it one of the most discussed and potentially controversial World Cups in history.

Photo: Chat GPT